New Anti-Domestic Violence PSA Calls Out the NFL [Video]
The NFL has a lot of problems, and one of them in recent years has been the incidents of violence involving its players.
A new PSA produced by Made By Women Media, "a group Los Angeles-based filmmakers who produce content to change women's lives for the better." calls on the NFL to hold their players responsible when they are convicted of domestic violence.
While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said back in 2014 that the league was aware that changes needed to be made in regards to how they handle allegations (and convictions) of domestic violence, it seems like not much has changed.
- Jameis Winston plays in the NFL even though it's been shown that the investigation into the rape allegations against him were about as shady as what we saw happen in Making a Murderer. Was he convicted of anything? No. Was his alleged victim just given a bunch of money by Florida State University because the investigation was handled so poorly? She sure was.
- Adrian Peterson is back playing in the league after serving his suspension after being convicted of abusing his child.
- Ray Rice is thankfully still not playing, but that's likely only because no team in their right mind would touch him with a 10-foot pole after all of the attention that was brought to his case, in which he knocked his wife unconscious in the elevator of a casino and then drug her limp body out into a hallway. Though he says he's still ready to play again if anyone will take him. Let's be honest, we all thought Jerry Jones would have scooped him up by now.
- Speaking of Jerry Jones, Greg Hardy is still playing for the Dallas Cowboys, though there are reports that they won't re-sign him. Hardy was arrested after assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The assault included Hardy throwing her onto a bed covered in guns.
- Former Arizona Cardinal Jonathan Dwyer is still not playing after he was arrested for assaulting both his wife and son back in 2014. Is he really out of the league, though? No. He's a free agent. Which means he could come back at any time.
So, while the league is addressing the issue (kind of) when it happens, there is no long term goal.
Then again, if we compare this to their pink campaign every October, we will see that even when they pretend to care, they don't really at all. In fact, we've learned in recent years that not much of the money brought in by the campaign actually goes to breast cancer research or charities at all.
The fact of the matter is this: we don't need the NFL to bring awareness to what a problem domestic violence is through special programs or anything else. It already brings attention to the problem every time one of the NFL's players are arrested for assault, battery, domestic violence, or child abuse.
What we need the NFL to do is send a message, loud and clear, to its players - One Hit Means Out.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and are in need of resources, contact the contact the YWCA of West Central Michigan’s 24-Hour Confidential Crisis Line at 616-451-2744.